Cdi went bad after 20 years

[Michael Sygo]

Stock cdi went bad after 20 years on my fx1.
I put one of the $80 ones on only worked 1 season
I bought a msd enhancer $300 rev limiter is set at 8000rpm
Should I turn it up to 9000rpm ???
Pros and cons please ???
And what the hell makes these go bad ?
I hope this $300 one last as long as my original did

 

[Quinc]

Keep it dry and it should last forever. your ski regardless of rev limitor is only running 6800-7200max(in the water). Most people set the limiter at 8k

 

[Michael Sygo]

Keep it dry and it should last forever. your ski regardless of rev limitor is only running 6800-7200max(in the water). Most people set the limiter at 8k

Both the cdi's that went bad never got damp
What's the pont in a adjustable one then ?

 

[Freakrider]

Some say once you set the adjuster to cover it with a dab of silicone over the adjuster to seal it from potential water intrusion in the ebox.

 

[Jr.]

If your cdi went bad after that long? It could be its life was just up?
Or it could be your stator going bad? Ohm your stator ? The heat generated there has been known to break down the coils? ( lighting) It could be a case of cause and effect? An Ohm test will let you know ?

 

[Michael Sygo]

If your cdi went bad after that long? It could be its life was just up?
Or it could be your stator going bad? Ohm your stator ? The heat generated there has been known to break down the coils? ( lighting) It could be a case of cause and effect? An Ohm test will let you know ?[/QUOTE

Jr.
Will the stator fry the cdi ? because it works with the new msd .
That is my biggest question weather something is frying the Cdi
I understand the old one going bad
But the new one only lasted 1 season
But it was a $80 aftermarket one

 

[Big Kahuna]

Repacement CDI's (direct replacement from like WSM or SBT) can be hit or miss. Test stator just like Jr. recommended.

 

[Michael Sygo]

I checked stator spec. Says good
I get current going into Cdi not coming out
My question is can a stator going bad fry a Cdi ?
Or is a Cdi that goes bad a problem with the Cdi itself?

 

[Jr.]

Jr.
Will the stator fry the cdi ? because it works with the new msd .
That is my biggest question weather something is frying the Cdi
I understand the old one going bad
But the new one only lasted 1 season
But it was a $80 aftermarket one

I would not say its frying it? But if the output is not in spec? Then the CDI is not getting the correct input,
Thus it would cause it to fail prematurely. The $80 aftermarket was probably the WSM version.
They do not have the best track record to begin with. So a fairly large grey area there?
Any electrical item needs to run at the correct value to have longevity. If its out of parameter
The time it will take to fail would vary acording to degree out of spec? Again, have the stator Ohm checked
That will give you indication on if its failing and needs to be replaced?.
Yes, a CDI can fail strictly on its own

 

[Quinc]

Might as well pick up a new coil from @JetManiac too.

 

[Big Kahuna]

OEM 760 coil best in my opinion

 

[Michael Sygo]

Might as well pick up a new coil from @JetManiac too.

I
I had new wires put on it from jet ski solutions

 

[Jr.]

I
I had new wires put on it from jet ski solutions

Nothing against John, but that might be paart of your problem? I have seen the high outbuts back feed a coil and blow CDI’s ?? When it comes to electrical parts on these machines, always replace with New, never try to fix something!

Like BK stated, the 760 coil off a 97-98 GP760 is a filliment wired coil. Those are the best! Espically in salt water use!

 

[Michael Sygo]

Nothing against John, but that might be paart of your problem? I have seen the high outbuts back feed a coil and blow CDI’s ?? When it comes to electrical parts on these machines, always replace with New, never try to fix something!

Like BK stated, the 760 coil off a 97-98 GP760 is a filliment wired coil. Those are the best! Espically in salt water use!

I haven’t gotten them back yet I was replacing the wires because they are so old I figured it would be a good idea since I had it apart already
The coil was checking out good just figured I’d replace the 25 year old wires and boots

 

[Roseand]

What engine/pipe mods are done to your ski? If you were content with an Oem CDI for 20 years an msd Enhancer might not be worth it. Chances are it won't last 20 years either.

 

[Michael Sygo]

What engine/pipe mods are done to your ski? If you were content with an Oem CDI for 20 years an msd Enhancer might not be worth it. Chances are it won't last 20 years either.

The OEM ones are the same price
I have the factory fx1 pipe and my compression is higher but not high enough I can’t use pump gas

 

[OCD Solutions]

One of the quickest ways to kill a CDI is to crank the ski with either the plug boots not attached to a plug or not grounded. If the spark can't discharge, the system continues to increase in voltage until it finds an alternative path or makes one. If that new path is internal to the CDI, then usually no more CDI.

Deteriorated plug wires could mimic that scenario to a certain degree if the insulation was still good but the internal conductor was broken. Failure may not be as abrupt but it could lead to a failure if left unchecked for long enough. I would suspect you would experience a stutter or poorly running ski prior to the failure though.

 

[Michael Sygo]

One of the quickest ways to kill a CDI is to crank the ski with either the plug boots not attached to a plug or not grounded. If the spark can't discharge, the system continues to increase in voltage until it finds an alternative path or makes one. If that new path is internal to the CDI, then usually no more CDI.

Deteriorated plug wires could mimic that scenario to a certain degree if the insulation was still good but the internal conductor was broken. Failure may not be as abrupt but it could lead to a failure if left unchecked for long enough. I would suspect you would experience a stutter or poorly running ski prior to the failure though.

Nope nothing like that both cdi’s worked then was out rideing and ski would not start after beer break no spark checked wires And specs I thought it was the stator but it checked out replaced Cdi was back on the water for a year and it happened again so this time I’m putting in the msd
It just makes me wonder wtf
One lasts over 20 years the other 1 year

 

[OCD Solutions]

The part about running well till the first beer break tells me it's more than likely a stator issue. I had the same symptom a few years back on the wife's ski.

I swapped out a RIVA CDI for an Enhancer and it cleared up but only for a month or so. I sent my Stator to JSS for a rebuild and it's been flawless ever since. I tossed the RIVA CDI but I bet it would have worked just fine with the rebuilt stator.

 

[Michael Sygo]

The part about running well till the first beer break tells me it's more than likely a stator issue. I had the same symptom a few years back on the wife's ski.

I swapped out a RIVA CDI for an Enhancer and it cleared up but only for a month or so. I sent my Stator to JSS for a rebuild and it's been flawless ever since. I tossed the RIVA CDI but I bet it would have worked just fine with the rebuilt stator.

Did your enhancer work with the new stator or did you have to replace that also again